Innholdsfortegnelse for 22-Dec-2018 i Amateur Gardening

THE week before Christmas, not to mention the days between December 25 and New Year, are strange times indeed. There’s the mad rush to get everything ready, followed by a unique annual slump where everyone lets their belt out a notch and fights over the last purple-wrapped Quality Street. Getting out into the garden during this time is an excellent way of escaping the hullabaloo, getting some exercise and keeping on top of outdoor tasks. I will be starting the week by tidying up the drive before any guests arrive. It is fringed with shrubs that need cutting back into shape and now is the time to prune and shape the deciduous ones, particularly a couple of long-established potentillas that have grown outside their allotted space. It’s a quick and…

ONE thing that united the British gardening world this year was the extreme weather. ‘The Beast from the East’ in early March was followed by a washout Easter. Spring lasted about 48 hours and turned into the hottest summer for 40 years. The bizarre weather patterns are likely to have repercussions, with suppliers warning of a spring bulb shortage over the next couple of years, though they hope bulbs that flower later in the year should fare better. Adam Taylor of Taylors Bulbs said it was the worst season he can remember. “It has been the perfect storm for the British bulb industry, because the stock is in the ground for two years and we have had two difficult years,” said Mr Taylor. “People remember this year, but last spring…

AG readers have been asked to help the Royal Horticultural Society become world-beaters in the fight against global warming and ill-health. The society is to combine gardening and science and become a world leader in the fight against climate change and the global impact of mental and physical illness. A multi-million pound National Centre for Horticultural Science and Learning is being built at RHS Wisley in Surrey, where the public will be able to watch scientists at work. RHS director general Sue Biggs said: “What we are doing is incredible and wonderful and extremely exciting. As far as I know, it is unique in the world.” She added: “If there was ever a need to use people and plants to combat climate change, mental health issues and other problems, it’s…

Birds will be grateful for many of your edible Christmas leftovers. Mince pies, Christmas pudding and cake are all good as they are loaded with dried fruit, fat and sugar and packed with energy. Roast potatoes are a good source of fat, but either cut them up small first or hang them from a tree so birds can perch and peck. Avoid giving birds neat turkey fat as it can get on their feathers and break down the waterproof barrier. Mild cheese is full of fatty goodness, as is bacon rind cut up small, bruised or gone-over pears or apples, and unsalted nuts. Avoid giving birds anything salty or chocolatey, and don’t leave out cooked meat as it will attract cats and vermin. Clear away all the uneaten food at…

BLUE is the colour of this week’s festive free seeds. Lobelia ‘Cambridge Blue’ is a compact plant, ideal for walls and containers, with mounds of sky-blue flowers. Morning Glory ‘Grandpa Otts’ is a long-flowering, robust climber that produces intensely violet-blue trumpets with a central ruby-coloured star. Both seeds can be sown indoors or undercover and germinated on a warm, light windowsill or greenhouse. Thinly sow ‘Cambridge Blue’ between January and April onto dampened seed compost that has been tamped flat. To make sowing easier, collect a few seeds onto the dampened end of a matchstick and tap them onto the compost. The seeds are so small they struggle to germinate through any covering of compost, but do add a lid to stop them drying out or being disturbed. ‘Grandpa Otts’…

THE holly blue butterfly (Celastrina argiolus) often makes an appearance at Spring Cottage in late October, but it mainly appears in early spring and in August and September. This butterfly, with the suitably festive name, is the commonest blue butterfly seen in gardens. The Big Butterfly Count of 2019 recorded 22,302 sightings of it and these represented an increase of 122%, earning it 12th position. No other blue butterfly appears so early or flies so late, in my experience. It’s also a high flyer, often seen close to shrubby plants and trees while other blues hug the ground. Although the holly blue is expanding its range northwards, its numbers do fluctuate because this butterfly is parasitised by the small black and yellow wasp (Listrodomus nycthemerus) whose sole host is the…

Christmas and glad tidings From the shortest day (21st December) to the New Year, it’s going to be a busy couple of weeks – but maybe not so much in the garden. There isn’t a great deal to do outside just now, which is just as well as the weather isn’t exactly ‘gardening conducive’! However, the Yuletide season is full of gardening connections so, as usual, there is plenty to cover in Miscellany! An old adage has it that we should plant shallots on the shortest day (this Friday). They should then be ready for harvesting on the longest day (21st June). Origin: ‘That old chestnut!’ ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire’ is a concept synonymous with Christmas, but what about the phrase ‘That old chestnut’? Its origin is in…

Christmas trees? In Isiah, chapter 60 verse 13: “The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary.” This could be why the sweetly smelling, winter flowering evergreen shrub sarcococca is known as Christmas box. Rose of Sharon The rose of Sharon (Hypericum calycinum) is one of the St John’s worts. In The Bible, the first verse of the second chapter of the Song of Solomon reads: “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys” – how confusing! Some authorities say therefore that the rose of Sharon was probably some sort of bulb. This hypericum comes from Bulgaria and Turkey, and not from Sharon, the coastal plain of Israel. And it’s…

Evergreen euonymus are happy in sun, overhead shade and the shade cast by walls and fences. Deciduous types prefer sun or just a little dappled shade. Both groups will grow in most soils that are not parched. I have found that E. alatus is perfectly happy in wet – though not waterlogged – soil. Most will also be fine on chalk. Try to plant more than one specimen of deciduous types; this will usually result in better fruiting. Euonymus are generally supplied as container-grown plants; these can be planted whenever soil is not parched.…

Although seen much less often than the variegated evergreen types, varieties of euonymus grown for their fruits and autumn foliage can make quite an impact in the colder months. The leaves are usually red or purple, while the curious fruits – a little like jesters’ hats – come in combinations of pink, orange and red, and are much loved by birds. Euonymus alatus and its dwarf form ‘Compactus’ are the stars for autumn foliage, while E. europaeus ‘Red Cascade’ combines dramatic red autumn colour with prolific fruiting. The fruits of Euonymus phellomanus are pink and orange, and the yellow autumn foliage is often tinted purple. Then there is E. cornutus var. quinquecornutus, which has unusually slender leaves, and large purple and pink fruits in October and November. Modest in growth,…

Pots of colour that are easy to grow Q Age and disability prevent me and my wife from gardening, except in pots and containers. What colourful plants can I grow in an unheated greenhouse? Ron Barnes, via email A I suggest that you raise the following small and compact annuals (which will flower many weeks of summer) in your unheated greenhouse in mid-April when night temperatures remain above 46°F (8°C). Shrub planting Q Is it too late to plant out shrubs? I live in Wiltshire and it is still relatively warm. Danny Leggate, Devizes, Wiltshire A It is not too late to plant or move shrubs, for the current chilly spell won’t radically affect soil temperatures that are still relatively warm. If you decide to move a shrub, lift it…

Better gardening for disabled Q Age and disability prevent me from gardening, except in pots and containers. I am then able to sit and potter. I have an unheated greenhouse where I can raise seedlings. Can you please point me in the direction of which plants to grow, preferably short varieties with maximum flowering season and impact? I have grown annuals, but found lifting and filling pots a problem. My wife and I get so much from the garden and look forward to more years of enjoyment. Sadly, my wife is more handicapped than me, so she is unable to help. Ron Barnes, by email A The upside of annuals or bedding plants (some are tender perennials) is their long season of flowering from May to the first frosts of…

• Plant in the sun (where soils are moist) or in dappled shade. An ideal position is between deciduous trees and shrubs. • Whether clay or a lighter soil, condition the planting area (and not just the hole) with plenty of added garden compost or leaf mould. Mulch after feeding in spring. • Remove disfigured leaves in autumn, and again just before flowering (some growers remove all old foliage at this point) to help avoid viral and fungal diseases. • Propagate favourites by division in autumn, using a sharp knife to sever the dense mass. Keep several leaves and new growths per section. • In pots, use 50:50 John Innes No2 and soilless compost with 20% added grit and leaf mould.…

1 Check the weather forecast and if sub-zero conditions are on their way, lift festive veggies such as leeks, parsnips and carrots a few days early before the soil freezes. Parsnips need a freeze to taste their best, but if it’s mild they will still taste better than shop-bought equivalents! 2 Christmas is traditionally the cut-off point for planting autumn garlic, so look smart! Plant cloves 1in (2½cm) deep in fertile, free-draining soil where they will get plenty of sunlight. If you don’t have much room, grow them in deep, 8in (20cm) containers with added fertiliser.…

Create a colourful welcome by planting up a hanging basket for your front door. Use bedding plants and spring bulbs set in container compost. If you want to add trailing plants, cut holes in the side of the lining and slide them through with clingfilm wrapped around their roots to protect them. (Remove it after positioning the plants.) Water your basket when needed and if storms are forecast, store it in a greenhouse or well-lit porch for the duration.…

THE aftermath of Christmas usually includes leftover sprouts, a few extra pounds around the waist and piles of used wrapping paper, cards, envelopes and gift packaging. This year, why not be as green as possible by seeing what bits of festive rubbish you can use around the garden? Your tree can be shredded if you have the equipment and used as mulch on borders or incorporated into the compost heap. Pine needles made great acidic mulch for lime-hating plants including rhododendrons, azaleas and blueberries. Where we live, real Christmas trees can be chopped up and placed in your garden waste, or you can take them to the nearest recycling centre. Look online to see what your local authority offers and check to see if local charities offer a tree-collection service.…

MILLIONS of flowering houseplants change hands over the festive period, with many a sorry sight by February. I like the challenge, however, to keep them growing, although after two or three years some can get a bit big for my one-quarry-tile-deep windowsills! A red flowered hibiscus from two Christmases past, is now in a 25cm (10in) bell pot. Three years on, the stephanotis is in a 15cm (6in) pot with long climbing stems wound round and round on itself, and four years on, a pyramid Indian azalea is in a 7½-litre black pot with the lower branches two feet across. The azalea and hibiscus spent the summer outside, along with a Christmas cactus, and their increased size is a bit of an embarrassment. There are several basic pieces of advice…

1 Sieve fresh compost into new or clean trays or pots. This removes large lumps, which can hinder germination of very small seeds. 2 Dampen the compost using fresh tap water from a watering can with a fine rose nozzle. Let it drain through. 3 Sow the seeds as thinly as possible, so seedlings have ample room to grow healthily, with good airflow between each plant. 4 Label and add a lid, which is removed after germination. Place the tray somewhere light and warm but away from direct sunlight.…

I KNOW, I know – you’ll have other things to keep you busy, because it’s that time of year. But don’t neglect your garden because of all the fuss and festivity. Take a break and escape outdoors for a bit of relaxing gardening time spent tidying. The paths always benefit from brushing, and you can improve the space just by putting away anything that’s out of place. You don’t necessarily have to start on some massive pruning task: you can just titivate. Deadhead any late roses, remove seed heads from shrubs, and trim off any dead twigs and branches, especially those showing coral spot (a fungus that looks just like its name). Watch out for bulbs pushing through, and push in some clean prunings to mark their sites so you…

HOWEVER you like to cook this essential Christmas vegetable, it’s impossible to imagine being without Brussels sprouts this week. If you’re a newbie flirting with the idea of growing them, follow these tips. First, be in it for the long haul: Brussels are sown in March or April, planted out in June and not picked until winter. Pigeons and cabbage white caterpillars can be a problem, but both are easily controlled with a cage of butterfly netting. Being a predominantly leafy crop, nitrogen is a must-have nutrient – chicken pellets are an excellent source. Get those factors right, and you’ll be tucking into homegrown buttons when the big day arrives!…

WINTER is the perfect time to establish new stock, whether it’s planting an espalier pear against a sunny garage, or getting a new row of raspberries in to replace a lacklustre bed. Roots are dormant, meaning plants don’t experience any transplant shock and consequently establishment is very good. Just bear in mind the actions of a harsh frost in these wintry months. New roots going into a freshly dug-over plot can suffer, due to the freezing and thawing physics of the soil. Fluffy, moist earth can swell if frozen, due to the sheer volume of ice crystals. This can loosen new plantings, exposing roots and drying them out. The solution is to firm in any new plants after a frost.…

20 December 1856 Reginald Blomfield, architect, garden designer and author, was born. His book, The Formal Garden In England, was published in 1892. He also helped draw up plans for the curvature of London’s Regent Street. 21 December 1864 Edwin Hillier bought a nursery and florist business in Winchester, Hampshire, which grew to become the famous nursery and garden centre business of Hillier & Sons. 21 December 1873 Scottish nurseryman Charles Lawson died. The Lawson’s cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, pictured) is named after him. 25 December 1800 The first Christmas tree in Britain was erected at Queen’s Lodge, Windsor, Berkshire, by Queen Charlotte. 26 December 1780 Physician John Fothergill died. He was an avid plant collector and amateur botanist, and fothergilla is named after him. 31 December 1695 From midnight on…

CRYSTAL ball gazing and forecasting likely happenings are popular tasks at the new year, but so much is happening in the gardeners’ world it is worth taking a few moments now to acknowledge recent developments, as there have been a considerable number this year. More advanced feeding Slow-release fertilisers are a case in point – one application to either composts or soils early in the year, and no more weekly and weakly feeds when watering through the growing season, some of which invariably run out into drainage water. The difference in growth between correctly fed plants and those that are not is surprising, as I saw on my lawn when rain fell after the drought. More fragrance than ever Consider fragrance, as we now have summer bedding Verbena ‘Scentsation’ with…

Wind and gales Windbreaks can reduce damage from gales and high winds. Protect crops with cloches and plastic tunnels, and keep plants in containers so they can be easily moved to shelter. Flooding Temporary flooding does less damage to most perennial trees and shrubs than waterlogging over weeks. Grow more on mounds, in raised beds, tubs and containers, which can be moved or lifted. Drought Increase the humus content of the soil and apply thick mulch almost everywhere. Grow more perennials and fewer annuals, and save more rainwater so install more and larger butts. Heat This can help plants or cook them; they need much more water, or shade netting and undercover whitewash. Move more to perennials and grow fewer annuals. Cold Thick mulches protect roots and keep soil warmth…

Tibouchina: “They have beautiful furry leaves, and flaming red buds, and of course those beautiful, dense purple flowers with their intriguing, spider-like anthers.” Helenium: “So easy-going, and  gorgeous colours, and they don’t seem to mind how dry the ground gets, they just keep on flowering.”  Aquilegia: “I would love some long spurred hybrids, because they are so incredibly beautiful.” Rheum alexandrea : “They are so statuesque and beautiful, and I’d love to grow them – but I haven’t got a bog!” Cape Nymphaea: “I have a friend who is a yoga teacher and she told me about the time she floated down the Amazon on a  massive waterlily leaf. I would love a Nymphaea capensis (Cape waterlily) because they come in such beautiful colours.”…

Hyacinths Place somewhere cool – no more than 13°C – or stems can flop and flowers will die quickly. Forced bulbs can be planted in the garden after flowering, but can’t be forced again. Poinsettia Needs an even temperature – avoid windowsills where temperatures fluctuate and the glass gets cold, and keep away from draughts. Water only when compost is dry. Schlumbergera Native to jungle woodland, where it grows on trees, the Christmas cactus likes humidity and light shade. Give it a minimum temperature of 10°C and a bright spot; avoid direct sunlight. Hippeastrum (amaryllis) Plant into a pot slightly wider than the bulb, with the top half of the bulb sitting above the compost (use John Innes No2). Place in a bright, warm location and keep the…

Daphne bholua ‘Jacqueline Postill’ A semi-evergreen shrub with an upright habit and small, sweetly perfumed, deep-pink flowers from December to March. Plant in full sun or partial shade, in a neutral soil that is moist but well drained. Helleborus x sahinii ‘Winterbells’ One of the longest-flowering hellebores, with masses of nodding flowers in an attractive pink-flushed green. Thrives in partial shade, in neutral-to-alkaline soil. Add leafmould or compost to the planting hole. Camellia ‘Yuletide’ Glossy, evergreen leaves and yellow-centred, pinky-red blooms in December and January. Needs acid soil (use ericaceous compost in pots) and partial shade. Avoid east-facing sites – frost that thaws in morning sun damages buds. Sarcococca ‘Winter Gem’ This compact, bushy evergreen has the most deliciously fragrant…

Pinching out the shoot tips of evergreen varieties in spring will encourage more bushy growth. Remove any crossing and rubbing branches from deciduous types; this should be done in winter. Trim plants grown as a hedge in April. On variegated forms, keep an eye out for occasional plain-green shoots and snip them out completely. Beware of aphids on deciduous types in spring. If spotted, treat accordingly. All appreciate an annual autumnal mulch of weed-free organic matter. In poor soil, if growth is slow, apply a general fertiliser in spring. Peg down shoots of evergreen types grown for ground cover and they’ll root into soil.…

PEST damage to our plants is most obvious during the growing season, and it can seem like many insects simply disappear from our gardens in winter. However, the vast majority, including many of our most troublesome pests, do overwinter in our gardens. For AG readers, knowing more about their life cycles can aid control, allowing you to target the most susceptible stages and take measures to prevent future damage. Indeed, understanding the winter habits of some pests is key. Cold-blooded Being ectothermic, or so called coldblooded, many insects respond to falling autumn temperatures by becoming inactive, entering a period of suspended development known as diapause. This, depending on the species, may occur at any developmental stage and in a variety of places. Staying put A number of insect pests overwinter…

Q My spring bulbs are already shooting – is this normal? Julie Knowles, Redditch, Worcs A Spring-flowering bulbs are emerging and flowering much earlier than usual. If blooming coincides with a forecast of hard frost, cover plants with fleece to reduce risk of damage. Support fleece with a framework of canes or twiggy sticks to avoid it touching leaves and flowers. Remove protection the moment temperatures rise again. Q We haven’t had the hard frost needed to sweeten up parsnips for our Christmas meal. Shall I put them in the freezer instead? John Lincoln, Penzance, Cornwall A Unfortunately, low temperatures are not forecast and this delicious root crop, nicely roasted, won’t be chilled and there is no other way to improve its flavour. Pleasingly, your freshly dug roots will still…

Coreopsis ‘Solanna Golden Sphere’ Double yellow flowers from May to October over deep green foliage. Responds well to deadheading. Propagate by division. Reaches 12-18in (30-45cm) tall. Delosperma cooperi ‘Jewel of Desert Garnet’ A low-growing succulent producing masses of bright daisies all summer (in full sun). Said to be hardy, but dislikes the wet so keep some under cover. Geranium ‘Azure Rush’ This hardy geranium produces large, white-centred, violet saucer-shaped flowers all summer, on neat but mound-forming plants reaching 18in (45cm) high. Penstemon ‘Pentastic Red’ Large, tubular red flowers with white throats that re-bloom all summer on hardy plants 8-10in (20-30cm) tall. Deadhead thoroughly for more blooms.…

H. x hybridus (Ashwood Garden Hybrids) A vigorous form of Lenten rose, which produces single blooms in white shades with fine burgundy margins and dark centres. H. x h ‘Red Lady’ The boss of golden stamens shows up well against the glowing wine hues of these single blooms. Plants reach 12-14in (30-35cm). H. x h. ‘Golden Lotus’ This Lenten hellebore has double flowers up to 3in (8cm) across, first creamy and then yellow, with red picotee edges or speckles. H. x h ‘Harvington Dusky’ Large blooms of rich purple-pink, beautifully shaded and densely spotted. Plants reach 18in (45cm).…

1 Avoid using salt to clear paths of slippery ice. It is bad for plants and insects in the soil. Use sand or grit instead, which are harmless. Ray Gibson, Knutsford, Cheshire 2 Before starting off begonia tubers, first place them in a plastic bag with a couple of handfuls of moist compost and seal. Pop in the airing cupboard and check daily for little pink shoots – this way there will be no mistaking which way up they should be planted. Matt Robbins, Rugby 3 A shoe hanger on the back of the shed door makes a great holdall for those gardening bits and bobs! Mrs Tina Vowles, Stroud, Gloucestershire 4 Robins, wrens and thrushes love to eat insects. Make it easier for them in winter by turning over…

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Sarah Raven Grow Cook Eat Diary £12.95 plus £4.95 delivery 0345 092 0283 sarahraven.com Features Ringbound, A5 diary in 7-days-per-spread plus notes panel. Extras include a metric ruler, sunrise and sunset times, year planner and calendar. Each month is introduced by an inspiring photo, garden tips and a recipe. There are extensive sowing and planting guides for flowers, fruit and vegetables. Performance This is a gardener’s diary. It is straightforward and functional, with spaces to note weekly average temperatures and rainfall. Sarah’s gardening tips are brief but timely and well-chosen, while her vegetarian recipes are simple and interesting. Sowing and planting guides at the back are excellent. Value A really good gardener’s diary you can use to plan the whole year’s growing of flowers, fruit and veg.…

WHAT to buy for the gardener in your life? Every Christmas, I drop hints about a nice orangery or ‘a few acres, but still… can you have too many ‘Assistant Gardener’ mugs? Sitting by the fire and flicking through old 1960s copies of Amateur Gardening from Christmases Past, my eyes alight on a pipe-smoking Percy Thrower in the practical sections – the Blue Peter gardener would never get away with that now! The black and white pages also offer an interesting insight into what gardeners of the era coveted most. “Consumers now prefer experience over stuff” Without hesitation, the most desirable ‘gift’ is a greenhouse. The magazine is full of ads and advice on cedar or oak-framed lean-to options. And if those were out of your budget, there was a…

A FESTIVE pursuit picked up while working at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden is the Christmas day flower count. As the name suggests, this is a romp around the garden and neighbouring streets, listing any plants in bloom during the darkest week of the year. There are dozens of winter bloomers from arbutus to viburnum on show, but the flowers I like to see most are those that are completely out of season, such as roses and daisies in the lawn; as you walk off those mince pies, you’ll be amazed at how many you can find!…

WHILE most of us grind to a halt over the Christmas period, it is just another week for the outside world. Weeds still grow, birds need feeding, and winter storms won’t let festive goodwill prevent them from causing damage and flooding. So there is still plenty to be getting on with out there. You may even need to give the lawn a trim if the weather is mild and dry enough. I cut back an overgrown deciduous honeysuckle, which was starting to break into the roof space of our summer house. It’s a little late in the day, but I’m happy to sacrifice a few flowers for a more robust plant. 1 Prune deciduous trees while they are dormant. Remove dead, damaged and diseased branches, plus those that are crossing…

CONTROVERSY hit the world of horticulture this year, when an American groundsman won a multi-million dollar court settlement after claiming his terminal cancer was caused by prolonged exposure to the chemical glyphosate. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in a cocktail of chemicals found in the UK’s most popular weedkiller Roundup, as well as many others. It appears in brands used by domestic gardeners including Resolva, Roundup, Job Done and Weedol. It is also widely used commercially and its prevalence in farming has increased by 400% in the past two decades. However, since Dewayne Johnson won his claim against Monsanto, the company that launched Roundup in 1974, leading brands in the UK are starting to offer alternatives to the controversial chemical. Glyphosate is also banned, or under discussion, in several EU…

THIS year’s award-winning plants created a splash of interest and colour across the horticultural landscape. Plant of the Year at Chelsea Flower Show was Hydrangea ‘Runaway Bride’, which has a mass of delicate white lacecap flowers and a gently weeping habit. Another global favourite was Helianthus ‘Sunbelievable Brown Eyed Girl’, which is said to produce more than 1,000 flowers per plant between May and October. As well as coming third in Chelsea’s plant of the Year contest (second place was taken by Eryngium ‘Blue Wave’), ‘Sunbelievable’ also won Flower Trial Japan 2018’s Outstanding Performance Award. ‘Starlight Symphony’ was named Rose of the Year 2019. A beautiful repeat-flowering climber with pure white single blooms that are attractive to pollinators, this is disease-resistant and can be bought bare-root or container-grown from garden…

1 Break up polystyrene packaging and use it as container crocks – it works as well as old bits of pot and is much lighter. 2 Use bubble wrap to swaddle containers when frosts are forecast or attach it inside a greenhouse for insulation. 3 Cardboard is great for blocking light and stopping weeds coming through, so lay some on beds, anchored with bricks. 4 If you have a shredder, put your festive tree through it and use it as mulch on borders to suppress weeds.…

1 The compost on Indian azaleas needs to be kept constantly moist. Check by looking for a black, wet mark for an inch up the base of the stem. Ideally, add some rainwater or boiled water. 2 Cyclamen is best in a cool, light position, while the poinsettia is better in warmer temperatures and brought in from windowsills after dark. 3 Plants need feeding whenever new growth is being made. In shorter days with less daylight, growth will slow, water requirement will reduce, and feeding will also need to be reduced accordingly. 4 Standing plants on saucers filled with silver sand, with the sand kept constantly moist, allows plants to take up what moisture they need without waterlogging.…

Although seeds are designed to germinate with no outside help, there are things you can do to give them a better chance. Using new or clean pots, trays, tools and soil sieves is a good start. Always use fresh tap water as hydration, rather than water drawn from a butt that risks contamination from debris, fungal spores or pests and their eggs. Also make sure seedlings are adequately ventilated to avoid fungal problems like damping-off disease, which can wipe out entire batches of young plants.…

1 Mistletoe becomes quite cheap come Christmas Eve, so buy it then for the berries. Keep it until February and then ‘sow’ the seed onto branches. 2 Plant early potato sets in a large tub. Keep them warm and in the light for a super-early (if small) crop. 3 Exotic fruits that are unsold before Christmas are often reduced in price, so think of these as bonus packets of seeds with a free fruit! 4 Finally, treat your compost heap to the vegetable remains of the Christmas feast, plus any paper and cardboard packaging.…

1 Our large greenhouse at the Hall has old growing beds in it – but you can easily use cold frames or raised beds, as these are the perfect size. First, dig down to a depth of 30in (75cm) below the rim, then add a 20in (50cm) layer of fresh stable manure and bedding. 2 Trample this down well, as this will slow down the rate of decomposition, giving the hotbed maximum longevity. Top the manure with a 6in (15cm) layer of good-quality 50:50 garden soil and multi-purpose compost. Insert a soil thermometer probe into the top 4in (10cm). 3 As the manure decomposes, it will give off heat. Initially, this will be too hot to sow, but once the thermometer falls to 68°F (20°C) you can water the soil…

WITH the weather being brisk, and short days giving us precious little light, this is the ideal time to sit in a cosy chair and dream up future plans and exciting projects. For me, a must-have for 2019 is a proper herb garden. I adore these flavoursome plants – they bring out the best in my fruit and veg. If you have been cultivating them in pots for years and fancy migrating things into your garden beds, what should you consider? Two key factors are site and soil. Don’t presume that all herbs enjoy free-draining soil and sunshine. It may be true of Mediterranean types such as thyme, rosemary and basil – but sorrel, claytonia and angelica prefer moist shade. A herb encyclopaedia or reputable herb nursery’s website will give…

Christmas wreaths, traditionally, were a symbol of hope for the coming spring: the evergreen leaves and the circular shape representing life through the dead of winter. The holly variety ‘Golden Queen’ is actually a male (which doesn’t produce berries), while the variety ‘Golden King’ is actually a female – and does! The Norsemen of northern Europe first indulged in ‘tree-worship’, celebrating life-giving wood at the winter solstice. This spread, and evolved into a Christmas routine, where large logs would be lit on Christmas Day. Today, the tradition is represented by a decorative edible log – the Yule Log – as a table centrepiece. Mistletoe is a parasite, found growing in the crowns of a few broad-leaved trees, including poplar, apple, hawthorn and lime (linden, not citrus). Inside the white berry…

Hydrangea ‘Runaway Bride’ A new hybrid which uniquely flowers at every pair of leaves up the stem over a long period, rather than just the once on the growing tip of each branch. I also noticed that it has very colourful foliage just before leaf fall in autumn. Heliathus ‘Sunbelievable’ A new sunflower hybrid, propagated vegetatively by cuttings. It does not set seed, so flowers profusely with one plant capable of over 1,000 blooms; loved by bees, early summer to November. Needs plenty of water and regular feeding. Optigrow Seeds Primed just using air and water and then packed, so germination once sown in the soil is faster and with more vigour. Available for carrot, onions, parsley and parsnip, the latter universally used by commercial growers. ‘Kossak’ A very large…

Yew: Slow but nearly indestructible as hedges, columns and topiary. They are the supreme survivalists. Grapevines: Remarkably long lived and recover from damage, with glorious foliage. Some varieties fruit well. Figs: Another tough survivor, with immense root systems and lovely foliage, and often crops. Bamboos: Wet or dry, blown flat or worse, the hardier of these will cope with any conditions. Pot Marigolds: Irrepressible plants that self-seed everywhere and flower almost year-round, with edible petals. Jerusalem Artichokes: Once planted, you’ll never be without. The quintessential emergency ration vegetables.…

■ In winter, the body temperature of a hibernating bat can drop as low as freezing point to save energy; in summer it can climb to 40ºC. ■ Male hedgehogs walk, on average, just over one mile a night, while females cover half a mile; both walk in a circular route. They hibernate but occasionally move, and if you spot one in winter, the advice is to leave it alone. ■ Although lightweight, the silk with which spiders spin their webs is as strong as Kevlar, the material used to make bulletproof vests.…

Citrus Citrus plants need plenty of light and a frost-free spot (with a minimum temperature of 5°C). They have exquisitely scented white blossom and colourful fruit, often at the same time! The calamondin is the easiest to grow; also look for the lemon ‘Meyer’. Rhododendron simsii This half-hardy azalea likes a cool, well-lit, frost-free spot. It’s a compact evergreen with blowsy, frilly flowers – under normal conditions the blooms appear in spring, but flowers are forced for the Christmas market. Likes humidity, so place on a pebble tray. Echeveria elegans A tender succulent with rosettes of fleshy, grey-blue leaves that are accompanied by unusual yellow and red bell-shaped flowers in summer. Happy on a sunny windowsill. Keep the soil on the dry side over winter; in spring, water every two…

WITH euonymus it’s not the flowers, it’s the leaves – although they impress in two very different ways. With this unexpectedly varied group of shrubs it all comes down to foliage that’s either evergreen (and often variegated) or deciduous, offering dramatic autumn leaf colour. It’s true that all euonymus have fruits but – with one or two notable exceptions – these don’t make much of an impact in the garden. And the flowers tend to be tiny and green. Evergreen euonymus are among the most widely grown of our garden shrubs – and quite right, too. Even those with plain-green leaves are neat, glossy and attractive, and with their variety of splashed and edged foliage, the variegated ones bring light to shady corners, providing bright ground cover for most soils,…

Certain varieties of E. fortunei make unexpectedly good climbers. In common with ivies, they develop short clinging rootlets at points where the branches touch their host – be it a tree trunk, a fence or a wall. I use a sticking plaster or a small piece of duct tape to give the stems the right idea. Less vigorous than an ivy, ‘Silver Queen’ is the best climber, although it does not have an AGM because it has been surpassed as a shrub. ‘Emerald Gaiety’ and ‘Wolong Ghost’ also climb well.…

IT is great to see most insects in the garden, as they are part of its biodiversity and less than 1% of Britain’s insects are considered pests. Those that prey on pest species, pollinate flowers and help to break down organic matter are particularly welcome. As with pest species, there is also much variation in how these gardeners’ friends overwinter, but many, like ladybirds, ground beetles, centipedes and hoverflies, seek out a sheltered spot. Gardeners can help encourage these insects by providing suitable overwintering sites, like log piles, compost heaps and insect hotels, as well as taking a balanced approach to the maintenance of their garden, being selectively tidy and tolerating some nibbled leaves.…

Q What cherry tomatoes would you recommend for taste? Derek Hughes, Tintern, Monmouthshire A I would start with ‘Sungold’, ‘Sweet Olive’, ‘Tumbling Tom’, ‘Maskotka’, ‘Camp Joy’ (Chadwick’s Cherry) and ‘Tommy Toe’. All of these are available to buy in Britain, though you may need to go to different seed companies to seek them out. Q My amaryllis flower stem is 34in (86cm) high. Is this a record? Geoff Lunn, via email A This isn’t a record, but it is rather special to have reached such a height. It must be hard to achieve and is definitely a result of all the best growing conditions coming together in just the right way! If you have kept a record of what you’ve done you might be able to achieve it again, though…

Orchid record smashed! I WAS delighted to be confirmed recently as the Guinness World Record holder for ‘The most blooms on an orchid plant (sympodial)’ with a total of 1,684 blooms on my Epipactis gigantea ‘Trefor’ ( guinessworld records.com). The epipactis has been container-grown for 10 years in a mixture of soil-based compost, orchid bark chips, and hydroleca. Being hardy, the plant is kept outdoors during the winter, but covered in fleece as it is in a pot. The total blooms on each of the 225 flowering spikes were counted and recorded. It has a diameter of 48in (121.9cm) and is continuing to flourish! Dr Stuart Meeson, Church Crookham, Hampshire Wendy says An incredible achievement Patience rewarded EARLIER this year, I emailed you for advice as to how to…